Discussion time!

[kissing-off.livejournal.com]

Concerning Sasuke and Itachi (to an extent). This goes back to chapters 258/259 and 301+ , so spoilers for the three who haven’t read that far yet.



Everyone remembers the first time Sai meets Sasuke, right? When he attacks Sai for bringing up Naruto? Good. Here’s my questions:

Did Sasuke use genjutsu?
If so, then did he use a hand sign? Was he able to conjure up the attack like Itachi did in chapter 258 (when he caused Sasuke to appear on half of Naruto’s face)?
Or was it a nifty new sharingan technique Oro taught him?

Let’s look at the evidence…
(Apologies for the obscenely terrible graphics. Did I mention I hate photobucket?)

Here’s Itachi attacking. Resisting the urge to make pervy finger jokes.


Here’s Naruto confirming for us.


Now let’s look at Sasuke. (And unfortunately I’ve just realized Kishimoto’s hiding his body until 306. But there is no hint at a hand sign, only the Sharingan…)


And now, look at the attack. It’s similar to genjutsu in the fact that it’s an illusion, but I’m picking up more sharingan vibes other than the giant comas in the middle, such as the fact that like the Mangekyou it mentally harms the opponent – opposed to a genjutsu which distracts the opponent and can give you an opening for physical attack (think Kurunai and Itachi or Tayuya and Shikamaru).


Okay, so what do you guys think? (Personally, I’m leaning toward sharingan but I’m not a hundred percent sure.)


And a final question for those who care:
Sasuke’s powerful and all now. He can take Sai (who is an assassin and has killed off other powerful ninja who threaten the village). Could he fair against Itachi?

Comments

[seki-yumizu.livejournal.com]

I believe they call such a thing a killing aura more than a genjutsu, or something like that. Something that freezes your opponent with fear.
I think the entire illustration was meant to illustrate the atmosphere of it, not that this is exactly what Sai saw. Rather, he felt the aura.

But of course, that's my opinion. Feel free to dismiss it. Many have

[kissing-off.livejournal.com]

Hm... I never thought of the "killing aura" thing. It would make sense, considering how Sai is positioned in the actual picture...

Argh, now I'm rethinking my whole position on this as if I had one to begin with.

[kissing-off.livejournal.com]

True. But do you think Itachi's overuse of the Mangekyou (blindness?) will effect him any?

[mercurychaos]

I think that's probably why Kishimoto put that side-effect of the Mangekyou in there; because otherwise Sasuke would never stand a chance.

[rinnychan.livejournal.com]

He wouldn't stand a chance. Yes, he's become very strong, but when it comes to his brother he gets overly emotional and loses his composure. He wouldn't be able to win any fight like that.

[ryuuraigeki.livejournal.com]

Perhaps that's why he's so emotionless looking in the recent chapters? Because he's trying to keep his emotions in check. Trying, being key...I'm half-expecting a breakdown or blowup (as long as the fight doesn't get broken off), since he's pretty much a ticking time bomb of them.

[rinnychan.livejournal.com]

Naruto: Shit, shit, cut the blue wire...goddamnit, they're all blue...

Srsly. I think Naruto's awesomeness is gonna make him have that breakdown though, honestly.

[ryuuraigeki.livejournal.com]

XDDDDDDDDD *laughed out loud when she read that*

Don't forget to factor in Sakura. Admittedly, Naruto's more likely to pound him flat and rub his nose in reality, but Sakura might have more of a role this time around too.

[rinnychan.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. She said this time they'd do it together, afterall!

[voldy06.livejournal.com]

Could he fair against Itachi?

Well, depends on where Kishimoto is going with his plot, doesn't it? XD Besides, if Gaara can become Kazekage at the age of 15, then Sasuke can defeat his older brother. Not to forget that according to Orochimaru Sasuke's Sharingan has the potential to be more powerful than Itachi's. If you ask me, that was foreshadowing that Sasuke will defeat Itachi. It's only a matter of time.

[ryo0oki.livejournal.com]

It's so troublesome.

It's like, if Sasuke can defeat Itachi, he can defeat Orochimaru. So Orochimaru's not going to let Sasuke become stronger than he is, so there's no way he could possibly defeat Itachi. x___x but then Orochimaru will take over his bodyyyy so Sasuke has to do it before then! Dx

I mean like, obviously Sasuke's not going to get taken over somehow, I just don't know how Kishimoto's going to go about the whole thing. xD

I at least think that Sasuke at this point will present a challenge if he fights Itachi now. Lots of people are like, how can he catch up to Itachi in 2.5 years??? and so was I, but then I realized that it's shounen manga. xD Hikaru went from being completely dominated to formidable in 2.5 years; Gon managed to stand up to Hisoka in less than a year ;O hell, Ichigo went from being totally assraped to total domination in like a month. xD 2.5 years is generous.

[kunoichi-jaden.livejournal.com]

Well, I think whatever he cast against Sai was a nifty Sharingan ability that he either "unlocked" or came up with. I think there are a lot of things that the sharingan should be able to do. I'm pretty sure it's sharingan because that's would be the point of giving Sasuke's eye a whole frame prior to the jutsu.

And then about Sasuke vs. Itachi. I've already figured this out-- not by who's stronger, but by the storytelling logic of shounen manga. Sasuke has gone about this the wrong way, instead of getting stronger by working hard at home in Konoha. He decided to leave his friends and join the evil guy. By that right there, he can't possibly be allowed to succeed. It doesn't teach him (or the audience) a valuable lesson; "Betay your friends, succeed in life!" won't cut it.

So, he's going to get messed up by Itachi. And then he'll either have a nervous breakdown or shounen-manga-reedeeming-revelation. I'm willing to go with the latter.

[rainbowlasers.livejournal.com]

It think it's Genjutsu -- the Sharingan can do illusions, can't it? Genjutsu Tsukiyomi -- the world of the Mangekyou Sharingan which is created with ... well, the Mangekyou.

So a lesser Sharingan can do illusions too -- Sasuke never really worked his eyes to do anything but copy before, is all.

[rainbowlasers.livejournal.com]

And uh, on the Sasuke VS Itachi thing -- Sasuke won't win right now, obviously, because if he did get strong enough with Orochimaru, WHERE IS THE LESSON OF DOOM. The whole point of being strong in Naruto is caring for loved ones, so if he faced him right now, he probably wouldn't be ready.

After getting back to Konoha and some time passed, sure. But before THAT happens we're going to need another hundred chapters, I bet. XD